Service - we checked in for our reservation 2 mins early. We were sent downstair, so if you're a first timer make sure you reserve upstairs. Downstairs was really loud with a DJ. It was pretty with flowers on the ceiling and a cool vibe, but hard to have a conversation. The staff were all very friendly. Our table was not ready so we had to wait another 15 mins or so but the hostesses kept us posted and brought us a champagne welcome drink on the house. Food - everything was delicious. The sea bass sashimi was really delicate and had a great sauce that we kept to use with other dishes. The nigiri was all flavorful and perfectly portioned. But two dishes we got that were better than expected were the spinach salad and a dish with cooked eggplant and fish shavings. I don't have exactly names but when you see the menu make sure you get them! read more

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This is a tough one. I would give this place 4 or even 4 1/2 stars for the food but only one or two for the service. We did the premium tasting menu which was 105 pounds per person. For that price you would think you would get not only delicious food but also attentive service. I don't know if it was just our waitress having a bad night or what but we were basically ignored for the two hours we were there. The food, however, was delicious. Real highlights were the sashimi, the cod, the steak, and the dessert plate. The presentations of the food were fabulous. The tastes were varied, and overall very very good. We had cocktails, which were also delicious although they took a very long time to come. I will say that at the end we spoke with the manager about the service, and he was very understanding and took not only the service charge of 14.5% off of our bill but also an additional set of drinks that he comped. I give them a lot of credit for that and I'll stick with the three stars, rather than going down even further for what was a bad service experience. It is very possible that if you had a different waiter or waitress, you would have a wonderful experience and certainly is worth a trip here to try the food. read more

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Roka appears to be engaging in aggressive business practices in order to obtain extra revenue from loyal and conscientious customers who honor their reservations. Roka is a wonderful place for the food, and our servers tried to be attentive. However, it needs to be a matter of public record that they billed me through sevenrooms as a no show, even though my dinner companion and I arrived exactly on time for our reservation and completed our dinner within the 2 hour time window we were asked to honor. Anyone else with this experience should be sure to post it widely, since this is an easy way to bring in a bit of extra cash, and I am sure many high end customers don't take the time to complain when things like this occur. The restaurant should also make their email address available when sending a notification of such a charge. I had to call the restaurant to have this addressed -- a long distance call from the US -- but they immediately told me that to correct this I had to send an email. Another way of delaying and deflecting, helping them make extra money on this kind of false charge to a loyal customer's account. It did not work in my case. read more

Was able to make a reservation the day before. Food and drinks were great. So many items on the menu that looked amazing. The restaurant also looked really cool on the inside read more

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Went for lunch. Not impressed . Slow service . Too many different people visiting table not sure who our server was

Expensive, classy Japanese fare in the heart of Fitzrovia. You'll pay a hefty price for this meal, but it's worth it for special occasions. The dishes we ordered that were particularly good were the black cod and lamb cutlets. Definitely save space for the dessert platter as well. Roka is best known for this amalgamation of different desserts, which includes fruits, chocolates, cakes, and ice creams. It's a really fun way to try different flavors! read more

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After all these years, many trips to London and even more meals, still one of my absolute faves. The premium tasting menu is still what I would recommend, and having recently tried it again, it remains a fantastic dining experience - although most of the dishes haven't changed but I guess don't change a winning team? The service is also very good, even when they make an occasional mistake (they forgot my drink), they immediately correct. I would recommend to take a counter seat if you are with two people, else the main floor tables will obviously do. I would not necessarily recommend the sake lounge downstairs as I've heard several people commenting that the music gets too loud. Roka should be definitely on your London dining list! read more

The food was very mediocre and the service was nonexistent, disgusting performance from somewhere that attempts to look like a high end restaurant... read more

Excellent sushi, ribs and lamb chops. Service was prior and food came out fast. Loved it so I've been back a couple times. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Food was amazing. We had the seven course menu and loved it. Service was excellent throughout the night. The music was a little too loud, but not bothering. Would definitely be back read more

Ambiance was excellent (we were seated downstairs) and service was good. Food was just okay. Sashimi cut very thick, some pieces were chewy and some pieces were good. Food presentation was great. I don't think we would go there for the food but more so for the overall vibe. read more

ok, it's ok - but despite its claim, it's not Japanese. The atmosphere is friendly, modern and inviting. The cooks constant shouting of "Hey!" on the other hand Is completely unnecessary and frankly, annoying. Service was friendly, knowledgeable and slow. An interesting menu with lots of choices, great wine and spirit selections and a central grill area surrounded by bar seating are all pluses. Unfortunately, if it's terrific food you're after you're going to be a bit disappointed especially at their price point. I had a seaweed and watercress salad, kimchi (Japanese?), kyoza, grilled eggplant and ribs. Meh. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Loved my experience here. I've been here twice, once for drinks at the lounge and the other time for dinner. The lounge was happening! Music and low lighting. Their cocktails are creative and the staff is super nice. Totally was a great spot for a night cap. The upstairs dinner area is always bustling as well. We sat at the bar and ordered a few dishes including their special dish yellow tail sashimi, soft shelled crab and some apps. Everything was delicious! Great place for a treat or a nightcap if you are okay with busy and loud. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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We had a wonderful evening at Roka. The evening began with cocktails including chilled saki. They have an extensive menu and almost every type of saki is available. The staff was Friendly and knowledgeable. Standouts were black cod crab dumplings and sweet potato tempura cooked to perfection. We had four maki rolls and all of them were a twist on a traditional sushi concept. Expertly seasoned is how I'd describe all dishes. Much of the food is grilled out In the open by an exuberant team of chefs. The decor is exceptional. Wood grain and glass gives the sense of tradition with a modern flair. A great place to impress a date or client for that matter. You have a wonderful view of the street and you can people watch to your hearts content. The staff is extremely attentive. Pork belly with a little spicy vinegar sauce and sliced apples on the side was a stand out. The baby back ribs with cashew nuts and lime were fun but the sliced, rare duck was the best of the best. Desserts all had an original feel. We ordered donuts with Carmel although- we were stuffed and happy as can be at that point. Dishes are fun for one but easy to share. Roka truly is one of the best restaurants in London. Try it. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

We ordered the Tokujo (premium tasting) section from the Menu. Omg , it was incredibly amazing & excellent food and superb service and very nice ambiance. After 3 main courses, it came with desert , many variety of choices ( ice cream, fruits, cakes ...). It s a must to have diner there. read more

While they weren't super accurate with our reservation (we were seated about 30 minutes late) they simply crushed it with their food. Highlights included the yellowtail sashimi salad with truffle oil, the tuna tataki, the sashimi platter, and the insanely large dessert platter. The sake recommendation made by their sommelier was dead on as well. Service was smooth, I never had an empty water glass and the food was well paced. read more

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I don't know. Maybe I'm spoiled by the amazing Japanese food in San Francisco but I thought Roka was a bit too trendy for it's own good. Our food was good but overpriced for what we received while service was friendly but amateurish. If you've got a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to hang out with the pretty people, Roka is your place. If you want great food and reasonable prices I'd suggest you look elsewhere. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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My new favourite Japanese restaurant in London. Really excellent and meticulously presented Sushi. If you want a hip trendy albeit very expensive Japanese experience this needs to be on your short-list. I tried several dishes and was happy with all of them. Really enjoyed the beef gyoza (gyuniku to goma no gyoza or something like that!) and the tuna tataki salad. I only had sushi and appetizers but next time I will try some of the mains, they looked amazing. The cocktails were great as well, can't remember what I ordered but it had sake, cucumbers and some goodness. Service was attentive though one overly eager waiter seemed annoyed when I tried to pour myself water from the large bottle of Voss. If you're in a small party, ask to sit by the Sushi bar, so you can see the chefs work their magic. The bar itself is made from several enormous trees which adds to the experience. The crowd is fashionable, so do dress up if you go. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Roka is an Asian fusion style restaurant on busy Charlotte street in Soho London. It's a busy fast moving place that offers a wide and not inexpensive variety of Japanese and vaguely chinese themed items. Expect to order Shared/group Tapas style. It's loud, and it's fun. They have an extensive drinks menu, and one that I found particularly tasty was their Bentai-san, basically a Manhattan made with Tequila. Quite good. The Grilled lamb chops (called cutlets) here are an excellent starter. The duck is fantastic too. Sushi is high quality, but don't some here just for that. They have a tremendous selection of Sake and also Shochu (basically Korean vodka). If you are looking for a fun meal, get a reservation and someone else's wallet! read more

Roka - Bentai - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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So delicious! My husband and I luckily got some last minute reservations here the last night we were in London. Pro tip- even if the online reservations says its full, call them! That's what we did. As far as the food, my only complaint was that it was hard for us to tell what would be a larger plate and what would be more of a small plate. We started off ordering a few things, and based on the size of the first 2 dishes, we thought we might need another 2. The third dish came out, and it was so much more food! We regretted getting those extra plates (even though they were good, we were just so full!). So, either ask or just be aware you might get a surprise large serving! On to the food! The first thing we got was the sashimi plate for 2. This came with salmon, a medium fatty tuna, snapper, prawn, and a small bowl of tuna tartare. Good way to start out the meal- simple, great quality fish. I really liked that they included the med fatty tuna - a nice surprise. Hubs got a few extra pieces of sushi which was also very good and clean tasting. Third dish (the big one!) was the crab hot pot. This was so good! The rice is a bit creamy but not porridge-y, lots of crab, and tobiko sprinkled throughout for texture. However, it was easily 4 servings and we struggled to finish it. We could have stopped here but we didn't know it was going to be such a large serving! We next got two of the specials, the cuttlefish and the kobia. The cuttlefish was ok, hubs liked it more than me. The kobia, on the other hand, was delicious. Make sure to stir this dish before serving yourself! There are pieces of fish, some sort of grain, a sweet corn mousse, and "micro asparagus" (not sure what they were but that's what we called it!). You want to make sure that corn mousse gets distributed around the plate, because it is awesome! Also fair warning, this was not as large of a serving as the hot pot was, but it was a bit much for our end of the meal. We also had sake and drinks which were lovely (they feature a lot of floral flavors which we like). Highly recommended! read more

I'm visiting London and my friend was craving roka. What a fun spot. I loved the ambiance and they had lots of fun drinks and a decent selection of wines by the glass. I would definitely recommend the ebi no tempura shrimp with dipping sauce and the robata black cod which yum yum yum. Roka is coming to a number of gateway cities near you. Our waiter talked about being asked to transfer to open new restaurants (Miami?) so definitely look for this place in other cities. read more

Roma Charlotte Street is a reasonably sized restaurant with attentive staff. The kitchen is very strict on serving times, if you don't order your food within the given guidelines, the kitchen may request you came back another time. I was able to order in time but was highly rushed by my waiter. I ordered their signature dish yellow tail sashimi salad with truffle dressing which was really good. I also ordered the lamb cutlets with korean spices. It came with a small amount of chilli sauce and I ordered a side dish of rice (which was a bit undercooked). The juice of the day pineapple, spinach and ginger was just ok and came in a tiny cup. The lamb was just ok but for that price I expected it to be amazing. Overpriced in my opinion. It was nice to see the chef's cook the food in front of you in the open style restaurant. My personal waiter didn't particularly come across as friendly and didn't smile despite my efforts to engage him. Most of the other staff are pretty friendly. There is also wifi available. Overall I would say most of the staff are great, premises clean with service efficient, but as for the food I can get the same quality of food elsewhere for a much cheaper price. read more

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Roka does real special food. It's a fantastic restaurant doing modern, exciting and brilliantly tasty Japanese food. The main bit of the gaff on street level is open, casual with a little dash of Swedish minimalism and centred around the big robata grill where most of the fish and meat gets a roasting, if you're not eating it raw obviously. The menu is varied and as with all these sorts of restaurants best eaten shared with a group of people - the whole place has got a social vibe. For a little bit more romance ask to sit downstairs in the shochu lounge where the feel is totally different, red and black, soft sofas, big cocktail bar and pretty much the same awesome food as upstairs. Roka has won loads of awards which is cool but in sometimes the place itself can seem overrated or hyped by the media. Not so here, this is a quality dining experience, great for mates packing a good wallet, your parents, your work do and maybe a date you want to impress with a bit of class food and pre 'who knows what' atmosphere. read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Even though Nobu London is arguably their best location, (with the possible exception of Nobu Malibu), Roka is actually better. The quality of their sushi Is truly exceptional as is their range of sake.I would strongly recommend their hamachi tuna. KRD NY read more

So my wife tells me "Five, it was an excellent meal." And it was. But it was so rich that, being used to very low fat food, I would have liked to have had a little rice to serve as ballast. But most people would not have that problem. I enjoyed the meal a great deal, each of 8 courses surprising and delighting the palate. And this was only the ordinary tasting menu. Service was unimpeachable, the decor was terrific, and, of course, my company was unparalleled. We had to rush. We did not have a booking ahead of time and even though we arrived early, to finish all of our courses by 8 when they had bookings that were going to be filling all of their tables, we had to keep eating. This was not a problem, as the wait staff brought courses 2 and 3 at a time, only waiting for us to finish devouring each in a fit of gustatory delight. Yet I will still fault them for having an insufficient amount of starch and vegetables to go with the fried courses, each resplendent in the glisten of delectable oils. Sometimes too much of a good thing is unbalanced. And I'm afraid I would conclude that you should come prepared to have an unbalanced meal. Unless you request rice. And, if you can make it stretch over a little longer than 2 hours. read more

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90% style, 10% substance. Quality fish Roka does deliver, albeit just tiny slivers. It's a place one would take to impress a lady friend. See the onsite sommelier for something cheerful to go with the maguro. Dropping £200 on sush did nothing to satisfy, and that's just my share. Still ended up at London Bridge Gaucho for dinner round 2. Don't come hungry. You've been warned. read more

Roka - Ice cream atop ice block. Really? - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Came here during a business trip in London in November last year. The location that we went to was at Aldwych not Charlotte. The ambiance was very modern and lively. I had made reservation very last minute so was able to only get a table for 2 that was in the bar section. Although we were not in the main dining area, it was still very comfortable. This was a high-end restaurant so the prices were on the expensive side but the portions were good for sharing for two. I got my favorite rolls, negi-toro (fatty tuna with scallions)...it was so yummy! My friend got the soft shell crab rolls and she said it was delicious. We also got a mushroom rice hot pot for sharing which was not your traditional Japanese dish but it was really good. read more

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Have been waiting to sample Roka for a while. Everything was great. Only slight negative was being informed at time of booking that we would have a 2 hour time slot for the table which always irritates me slightly, especially at an expensive place. Sushi and sashimi were excellent although my order of marinated sea bass sashimi was so small it was perched in tiny shards on top of a lemon half. At first I thought it was an amuse bouche from the chef due to the diminuitive portion . Gyoza very good. Great tempura and grilled sea bass (again) was simple and excellent. Attentive and friendly service and well organized. Cocktails were another high point. I like the open grill in the middle of the room. Buzzy vibe and cool understated decor. Looks like they have a cool cocktail bar downstairs. Maybe try that out in the future. Overall quite a pricey meal but high quality. Not an every day place but for a special occasion. read more

My friend and I decided to check out Fitzrovia and we happened upon Roka. We were attracted by the fishbowl design of the restaurant and the huge wooden front doors. Good thing about eating lunch at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon is there was no wait. However, that is not to say the restaurant wasn't busy. I reckon you have to make reservations in order to eat here for dinner. The services are was amazing, especially by London standard. We sat down and immediately we were handed warm towels. After learning that my friend has gluten allergy and is lactose intolerant, our waiter went away and came back with a list of dishes on the menu that are safe for her. And when he served the food, he made sure to put all the sauces in front of me, so she wouldn't accidentally use them! However, due to the dietary restriction, I have to say, the flavor of my meal was compromised a bit. We basically ordered simply grilled dishes. The sea bass grilled over banana leaf was delicious, especially the smoky flavored part that was close to the slightly burnt leaf. Roka offers a tasting menu that looks divine, especially the dessert boat I saw on the neighboring table. I had serious food envy that afternoon. I am definitely coming back for the full tasting menu. read more

Roka - Salmon Maki roll - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Four of us had two premium tasting menus (£79 each) and two seasonal tasting menus (£55 each). The quantity of food seemed to be the same but the premium tasting menu came with "better" cuts of meat. For example the black cod vs. the sea bream. Or yellowtail sashimi vs tuna ceviche. Both menus provided tons of food, you will definitely be full afterwards. My favourites were the yellowtail sashimi and the black cod. I think the rest of the menu was just ok and the sushi definitely was not the best I've had. Service was attentive but some servers delivering the food had no idea what it was or which menu it came from which was a bit annoying. Overall thought it was expensive for what it was but if you want to try something there, just go for the black cod and maybe a couple of other dishes to share. The cod and overall atmosphere was enough for me to bump it to 4 stars instead of 3. read more

Roka - Various sashimi as part of seasonal and premium tasting menu - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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It's very hard to fault this Zuma sibling in Charlotte St, though the only good thing to say about the noise level on a Friday night is that it's worse in the Sochu bar downstairsBut the ambience around the big robata grill is exciting, and the room is never less than packed with recession-proof diners (Heston Blumenthal was on the next table) who know that the food will be interesting and brilliantly prepared. We had the kani no kama meshi (the rice hotpot with crab and wasabi) which was like a totally novel risotto, delicious crunchy grilled asparagus with sesame, some very good tempura prawns, huge grilled scallop dumplings, a foie gras maki roll and some sushi and sashimi washed down with lots of Dog Point Sauvignon. The dessert was less successful; a boat of all the sweets on offer, but one doesn't go to a Japanese restaurant for the puddings! About £80 a head, so take your No 1 wallet! read more

Roka - Roka - the robata grill - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Had a wonderful meal last night. My friend and I had the Premium Tasting Menu and I would highly recommend it. Not cheap but well worth it. I don't remember every course but there were no let downs. Some of the things that particularly impressed -- The quantity of food. Plate after plate, and not small plates. I probably would have preferred slightly slower pacing but overall it was a ton of food. -- Went with the Wagyu upgrade on the tasting menu, one of the best food decisions of my life. I don't have Wagyu very often (I prefer a US style steak) but it was incredible. It was clearly Wagyu, not a hybrid where you can't tell the difference except by looking at the price. It was fantastic flavor and texture. -- The sashimi course was great. Very fresh fish and even the scallops (I normally don't like shell fish sushi) was not too chewy -- The yuzu truffle dressing that comes with the yellowtail carpaccio was incredible, best sashimi/carpaccio I have ever had -- The seared beef with black truffle was also incredible, tasted like typical Japanese beef appetizer but the truffle made it very special -- Dessert was over the top. I huge plate with great fresh fruit, multiple ice creams and a molten chocolate cake Service was better than I had been warned about. Overall, great experience. read more

Decent sushi, delicious beef, and beautiful decor. A bit pricy. Overall nice experience. Great for groups. A bit crowded but they have a lots of seats, large and small tables. Pro: - nice lively modern interior - beautiful plating - spacious - good for groups read more

I don't know. Maybe I'm spoiled by the amazing Japanese food in San Francisco but I thought Roka was a bit too trendy for it's own good. Our food was good but overpriced for what we received while service was friendly but amateurish. If you've got a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to hang out with the pretty people, Roka is your place. If you want great food and reasonable prices I'd suggest you look elsewhere. read more

Roka - Madagascar Prawn - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Roka London Awesome! The sushi here is not as good as Zuma but the grill is fabulous. They also have a connoisseur/bartender for their sake... It's a chic restaurant in a populous area and it's really easy to find. The service is very good, I've also talked to one of the managers there who is French who is also very professional. I always go to Roka if I'm in the area but make sure you have a reservation just in case (it's not hard to get one but they do get fully booked sometimes). read more

Roka - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

I had to eat at the London Roka as a promise to the staff at the Roka Akor in Scottsdale AZ, where I had my first Roka experience on vacation in September (reviews of places from my September vacation on its way!). They were curious to know how the 2 restaurants would compare on separate continents. Both restaurants are dominated by a robata grill in the middle of the restaurant where you can see the chefs at work. Drum roll..... well I preferred the Roka in Scottsdale though the London venue is also a good place to try Japanese food without breaking the wallet too badly. My gripes with the London venue are that the restaurant is crowded with tables close together and you do feel quite rushed with dishes flying in even though there's not always space on the table for them. I had the premium tasting menu and again at the London restaurant, you do feel short-changed. In Scottsdale, the sashimi in the premium tasting menu includes top fish like toro whereas the London restaurant served salmon and tuna. Don't get me wrong, what did arrive from the London kitchen tasted great and I would wholly recommend a meal there but in comparison to the Scottsdale restaurant, it just came up a notch short. The tasting menu allows a variety of dishes to be tried and is probably a good introduction for those new to Japanese food. Presentation is beautiful with the signature Roka trick of presenting the fresh food on huge chunks of ice carved from a block at the bar. My personal favourite dishes were the scallop skewers - the scallops were huge and sweet and given a kick from the spices. The lamb cutlets with Korean spices were also tender and yummy. An unusual dish I've had at Roka was the kamameshi rice pot, a sort of Japanese risotto with king crab and a kick from wasabi pearls. So a nice restaurant but Scottsdale wins. read more

I agree with Phil H... the place is trendy... Roka is one of those fusion sushi places that serves beautifully presented food to beautiful people. If that's what you're looking for, then it's perfect and sometimes that is what I'm looking for. However, I generally go for the hole-in-the-wall sushi place that serves me amazing fish; no deep fried rolls, no cream cheese with my sushi, no silly salads: simple fish, done simply and simply delicious. I know those places in LA and I'm hunting for them in London. I'm determined to find them. In the meantime, Roka gets 4 stars for great quality fish and a beautiful atmosphere - even if it is a scene I wouldn't generally choose for myself. read more

My love for sushi always blinds me to the fact that London restaurants are not very good at making sushi. I live in California and I am not Japanese, so I am not an expert, but at the same time... I have a mouth and I have taste buds and I have other senses like telepathy and kinship with treefolk and who cares what else I am capable of, I know what good sushi is. London sushi always disappoints me. Always. It is at the point where I actually don't think it should disappoint me anymore, but somehow it still does. Roka is highly regarded. I think it even got some Michelin attention, but that could be fabricated and I didn't bother to check on that one. Anyway, people say you should go here and as a guy here for a table of one, it still took a while to find a spot, so people clearly still think they should go here. It was just nothing special and the price was acting as though it was. The rolls I ordered all had some sort of gluten containing ingredients that weren't listed on the menu, so I had to send them back. Gluten in your food? Not a problem. Secret gluten in your food? Problem. The nigiri was fine, but it wasn't that great. I had a rum and coke and that was the best part of my meal. I went to Tesco after and got some food to snack on. I won't be coming back, though I will say that the service was pretty good. If you live in London and you are content with the sushi you have had in your city thus far, you may like it here. But, be warned... you have poor taste. I'm sorry that I have to be the one to tell you this! Really, I am. I don't even know you. So I'm sure that stings a little. But it's true, and someone should tell you. So, it's me. Come to California and eat our sushi. Or better yet, go the other direction and go to Japan. Then bring back what you learned and start your own restaurant. Please. I will visit you and pay you money for you to feed me. read more

A couple of weeks ago we went to ROKA Charlotte St. a superb Japanese Izakaya western twisted cuisine restaurant in London, just a five minutes walk from Goodge Street Tube station, it was totally sugoi!!!! Upon arrival, the staff welcomes you with a nice and lovely smile, since the moment we got in, the service was wonderful, very discreet and attentive from the beginning, everybody is friendly and will do anything they can to improve your experience in a crowded but at the same time relaxed ambience, with nice music and dime romantic lights, loud and clear enough to have a conversation and read the menu without any trouble. There are two areas, downstairs where you could find their amazing Shochu lounge, here you may enjoy a nice Japanese or classic cocktails with some Nihon tapas, or one of the 50 different references of Whiskies they have from the rising sun's country, among other interesting things, before you go upstairs to have your meal. The main attraction is the Robata bar island, in the middle of the room, which allows you to observe the skills of the chefs and obviously their show cooking with some Japanese shouting orders, and at the same time it guarantee the freshness of every single ingredient and of course that they make everything at the moment, for me is the best place to seat. What an impressing meal, absolutely everything was prepared and presented more than very well with a perfect timings of serving, our table was always with food on it. We went for omakase style, Daniel one of the managers looked after us, and together with the waiter did the unforgettably order for us, excepting for the salty edamame and sakemaki or salmon hosomaki for my daughter, I ordered for her, she cannot visit a Japanese restaurant without eating it. We started with the aburi sake tataki with ponzu sesame out of this world dressing and very crispy sweet potato, fantastic balance between acidity and creaminess, very light but flavorful at the same time, we just loved it. One of the best western twist salmon tataki I ever had. The deep fried Nasu (eggplant) salad with sesame miso dressing and bonito flakes, really surprised me, the texture was firm, I couldn't feel any oil at all, the touch of the spring onion, miso and katsobushi gave it the perfect combination for a nice umami, it melted in my mouth. At the same time we had a crispy soft shell crab tempura in ponzu sauce with shichimi togarashi shiso, kizami nori and some arare, it was sublime, but the jewel-like squid tataki with yuzu shallot dressing was even better. The Scallops from the robata served with a wasabi and shiso cream and the tenderstem broccoli with ginger and moromi miso were delicious too. Regarding the sushi, I must say the sashimi moriawase was one of the best ever in a long time, they offer different sizes depending on amount of persons, you will always have a selection of sashimi chosen by the chef, usually sake and toro are fixed included, there were hotate (scallops), lobster sashimi with different dressings (depends on season) this time was Mandarin Koshu, salmon tatar, hamachi, sea bream and ama ebi with imperial osietra caviar, all of it with nama wasabi, the fish was unquestionably of the highest grade and well execute, more than oishii. Unfortunately the maki selection was not at the same level, the ingredients and fusion were more than ok, but the quality of the rice was not the proper one, was too dry, however the temperature and the flavor was very good, my favorite was the wagyu tempura maki, quite impressive and nice move. At least but not less important we enjoyed the tai no miso-yaki which is a fantastic sea bream fillet with miso and red pickled onion The fish was cooked perfectly, falling off with ease and silky soft inside, the taste of the miso was amazing, this dish impressed me a lot, it was a clear example that sometimes less is more. If you were waiting for the sweet part, let me tell you that the dessert platter was 100 times Sugoi!!!!! I do not know how to start, lets see.... It was a simply beautiful plate with assorted of exotic fruits with some real good ice creams, a lovely soft and warm dark chocolate brownie with a surprise viscous green tea pudding fondant inside, had a peanut, vanilla and chocolate sundae with sesame poki sticks and banana tempura, this one was my favorite, but the coconut and passion parfait, pineapple and kiwi fruit simply blowed my daughter's mind away. Definitely Roka, rocks! read more

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Very disappointing meal at Roka. Quite simply not up to scratch across a range of factors, but mainly the service, quality of food and value for money. Let's start on service: I cannot stand when waiters continuously try to up sell more dishes and 'recommend' the most expensive items on the menu. Ours did this on at least three occasions, grating on us more and more each time and generally just spoiling our mood. On quality of food, the sushi was really poor. Nizuni across the street serves better at about 2/3rds of the price. On the dishes that did deliver, the price left a sour taste. Their black cod is undoubtedly amazing, but should be about £10 cheaper. Again you can get great alternatives elsewhere in this area for much more reasonable prices. Willing to overlook price if the restaurant delivers on amazing overall experience, but the poor service just compounded my negative feeling towards this place. I've been told the new Aldwych branch is a much better operation, so given the strong reputation of the chain, I may give them a 2nd chance via a visit to that location. read more